Nottingham Forest Europa League Progress After Nervy Win Over Fenerbahce
Nottingham Forest secured Forest Europa progress after a tense night against Fenerbahce. The home side survived a late scare to reach the last 16. Therefore, fans can look ahead to another European test.
Forest carried a 3-0 lead from the first leg. However, the return match quickly became uncomfortable.
Akturkoglu Double Sparks Drama
Kerem Akturkoglu struck in the 22nd minute after a quick counterattack. As a result, the City Ground grew nervous. Forest struggled to control the tempo and looked uncertain. Early in the second half, Jair Cunha fouled Akturkoglu inside the box. The forward converted the penalty calmly. Consequently, the aggregate lead suddenly felt fragile.
Manager Vitor Pereira reacted at halftime with four substitutions. He had already rotated the squad to protect players for the Premier League clash at Brighton. In addition, he wanted fresh energy on the pitch.
Callum Hudson-Odoi delivered that spark. He fired a low finish to make it 4-2 on aggregate. That goal eased fears and restored belief.
Focus Shifts to Next Challenge
Forest will now face either FC Midtjylland or Real Betis. Both opponents offer different challenges. However, Pereira insists his team must balance European ambition with league survival. He admitted the performance lacked fluency. Still, he praised the squad for handling pressure in a tense atmosphere. Fenerbahce pushed hard until the final whistle. Omari Hutchinson nearly equalised on the night, but Tarik Cetin made a key save.
After the match, Fenerbahce coach Domenico Tedesco expressed pride in his players. He noted the first-leg defeat proved costly. Forest now move forward in Europe. As a result, supporters can dream of another memorable run while the team fights on multiple fronts.
